Poll

HCA still has important role in bringing forward public sector land for development

Date: 26/2/2016

The government has announced a review of the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) that will consider whether each of the agency's functions - and the body itself - is still required.

A spokeswoman for the Planning Officers Society, speaking to a Planning magazine reporter, said the HCA has an important role in bringing forward public sector land for primarily housebuilding but also commercial developments. "One of the important things will be that the review doesn't impact on them being able to continue that role. Regardless of what the outcome of the review is, it's really important that sites still come forward as quickly as possible," she added.

The spokeswoman said ATLAS provides "incredibly important" capacity to local planning authorities in terms of delivery of large sites. "At a time of stretched resources in local authorities that capacity is important in ensuring the continued delivery of public sector land for high quality and timely housing development," she said.